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Thread: White spots on Phal roots

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  1. #1
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    Stacey
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    Default White spots on Phal roots

    Is it normal for phal roots to have white spots? The roots are green, but have white dotted lines running parallel along the roots (kind of like the white dotted lines you'd see on a street).
    I know there are white bugs/worms in the moss, but is this what causes the white spots?

  2. #2
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    Bruce Brown
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    Hi Stacey, please post up a photo of the roots with spots. I also worry about the bugs/worms you mention in the media. Let us take a look at what you are describing.

    Cheers,
    BD

  3. #3
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    Richard
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    If the dots are like dashes and are part of the root (and not sit on top of it) it signifies the places where the root can branch. If they can be wiped off they're probably some sort of eggs from bugs and a picture would probably help us ID it/them.

  4. #4
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    It's kind of hard to take a picture while the plant is in the pot. I don't want to repot unless I really have to since the spike still has 20+ unopened buds. I hope my problem isn't really a problem! Thanks for your help.


  5. #5
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    Stacey
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    I'm thinking the worms I saw could be fungus gnats since I've killed 3 flying bugs near the plant.
    Still not sure what to think of the small white bugs since they are too small/too fast to photograph.
    I sprayed the entire plant and pot with Garden Safe Fungicide 3, but it didn't kill the bugs or the worms.

  6. #6
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    Stefanie
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    Hi,
    I have a lot of phals and if the roots are wet and green, they sometimes show these white dots.
    I cannot tell what it is but I have some of them which show the same dots. In fact these are my healthiest phals. I would not worry about that!

    Maybe someone else can tell what it is, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the plants which have these white dots (and I have quite a lot of phals)

    Bye!
    Stefanie

  7. #7
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    Rebecca Luce
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    I agree with the above; I don't think these white spots are anything malevolent. I have these white marks on many of my plants, and it has never caused a problem. I particularly notice them on my catts, my vanda and my phals. Thanks for posting the picture!

  8. #8
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    Mary
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    I concur, perfectly normal for phals.(IMHO)

  9. #9
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    Stacey
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    Thanks for the responses. I'm glad to hear those spots are normal since I see them on a few of my phals.
    I still may repot this and cut the spike off. The suspected fungus gnat larvae gross me out. I've been googling and supposedly hydrogen peroxide will kill them. Has anyone tried this?

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